My Grandkids, Mac and Cash, in the back of my Mercury Colony Park
We get to know many of our customers very well, and they often become both business and personal friends. With my wife living in Germany, some inquire about how I spend my time, especially on the weekends. As a car enthusiast, I spend most of my weekends driving or admiring classic cars.
For instance, over the past 15 years, a group of us car enthusiasts have met every Saturday for coffee, to hang out, chat, and have fun. What started out as a casual meetup between a few friends has evolved into something that has become the highlight of my week – a tradition that has weathered job changes among some of the members, family milestones, and even a pandemic.
Classic Car Enthusiasts Unite
Cars are a great equalizer in that we enjoy everyone else's cars and love to show them off. There's something magical about how a shared passion can bring together people from completely different walks of life. Our group includes everyone from business owners like me, retired engineers, young people just getting involved in the classic car culture, teachers, building contractors, and mechanics.
One of the many reasons these weekly events are so much fun is that one never knows what will show up. For instance, last Saturday, we had a 1910 Packard parked next to a brand-new Rolls-Royce Black Edition, one of only thirty manufactured. Watching the owners of each car explain their vehicle's features and quirks to the others was really fun.
My Favorite Classic Car: A 1991 Mercury Colony Park Station Wagon
My current favorite is my 1991 Mercury Colony Park station wagon – the last year of the big station wagons. I still remember the day I found it on Facebook Marketplace in Florida, scrolling through listings. The photos looked too good to be true, and buying it sight unseen felt like the kind of impulsive decision my practical side usually talks me out of. Speaking with the owner convinced me to take a chance.
But something about those pristine wood grain panels on the Colony Park and that spotless interior just called to me. When it arrived on the transport truck three weeks later, I felt like a kid on Christmas morning. The car is pristine, way better than expected, and I truly lucked out on this one.
When friends and onlookers see the station wagon, everyone has a favorite story of their own about station wagons, like growing up with one, taking family trips in one, getting their license in one, and more. It is just great to hear.
The Joy of Cruising in San Diego
Here’s another reason I love my Colony Park station wagon: there's something deeply satisfying about cruising in a smooth-driving, exceptionally comfortable vehicle that was designed for long family road trips and weekend adventures. And, the beauty of owning cars in San Diego is the year-round, warm, sunny, and mostly dry weather. You can take them out for a drive about any time you please.
Over the 15 years I've been involved with this group, what I've come to realize is that these cars are not just machines - they're the vehicles that carry our friendships forward, week after week, year after year. Every Saturday morning, as I fire up the Colony Park and head to our usual coffee spot, I'm not just driving to meet some fellow car enthusiasts; I feel like I'm heading to see family.
-Klaus
